1. Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War.
15 Facts About Robert Komer
1. 2.
Robert Komer served on the staff of the National Security Council, which was led by McGeorge Bundy.
3.
Robert Komer arrived in South Vietnam in May 1967 as the first head of the newly created Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program, the most controversial aspect of which was the Phoenix program, which William Colby later testified resulted in 20,587 deaths.
4.
Robert Komer was known for his brusque management style, which had endeared him to the president and earned him the nickname "Blowtorch Bob" from US ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.
5.
Robert Komer said it "fell between stools which accounted for the prolonged failure to push things on a large scale even though many correctly analyzed the need".
6.
Robert Komer focused his work on the expansion of village militias loyal to the South Vietnamese government, believing they could provide local security against guerrillas.
7.
Robert Komer left South Vietnam in November 1968 and after working briefly as a consultant for the RAND Corporation was appointed ambassador to Turkey.
8.
Robert Komer was succeeded as head of CORDS by William E Colby, who would later become head of the CIA.
9.
Ambassador Robert Komer, known for his success in garnering support in a hostile environment like Vietnam, tried to calm down the relations to the Turkish population, which was furious due the presence of sailors of the United States Navy 6th Fleet in Istanbul, who had an exclusive access to certain theaters.
10.
Robert Komer ordered that the US military presence should be adapted to only the necessary, navy fleet visits were to be halted and NATO facilities would be operated by Turkey.
11.
Robert Komer was visiting the campus at the invitation of university president Kemal Kurdas, who relied on American donors to finance the building of the modern campus.
12.
Robert Komer joined the RAND Corporation in June 1970 as program manager for defense studies, which included RAND's ongoing work in South Vietnam.
13.
In July 1970 Robert Komer returned to South Vietnam for a two week visit in which he toured 20 of the 44 provinces to assess the progress of pacification.
14.
Robert Komer later worked in the Jimmy Carter administration as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
15.
Robert Komer argued against spending the resources for 600 ships, part of a controversial plan to deter and contain the Soviet Union.